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You can live in just about any city without a car. I think the better expression is, for the average person when does owning a car become more of a hassle than riding PT?
I think the only clear city that fits that bill is NYC, and only in Manhattan. Queens or Staten Island, people would probably find a car more convenient.
I can see people making some sort of argument for Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, or Boston.
Yes. You can live in any city without a car, but the question was can you live WELL without a car. That's a huge qualifier.
I'd say another thing, other than transit, would be if a city has extensive job opportunities within walking distance of extensive residential areas. NYC, Boston and Philly have this. Probably a few others too.
Yes. You can live in any city without a car, but the question was can you live WELL without a car. That's a huge qualifier.
I'd say another thing, other than transit, would be if a city has extensive job opportunities within walking distance of extensive residential areas. NYC, Boston and Philly have this. Probably a few others too.
Not many people in Manhattan are really walking to Midtown or Downtown, just pointing that out. Doesn't mean New York isn't easily the least difficult place to live without a car in the US, though.
Not many people in Manhattan are really walking to Midtown or Downtown, just pointing that out. Doesn't mean New York isn't easily the least difficult place to live without a car in the US, though.
This is very true. Maybe, for the sake of clarity, we should all agree that Manhattan is absolutely and by far the best place in the United States to live without a car.
Manhattan..............................certain other areas of NYC.......Philly, Boston....a few others............................................ .................................................. ............everywhere else.
You can make it work in a variety of places, but you'll need to accept certain limitations, and also develop friendships with people who own cars. It helps having a quick car rental place nearby, as well.
Phoenix would seem to be about the worst large city in which to be without a car, but I know people who make it work. They work and live along the new light-rail, within walking distance to small grocery/convenience/drug stores. They also have car rental on speed-dial. A car rental might seem "expensive" until you realize that between payments/maintenance and insurance, you're likely spending at least $300/mo on a car. Depending on the rates you get, you can rent a car for 10 days for that amount.
One thing that will usually make owning a car necessary is having children.
There are parts of Atlanta where car-free living is perfectly feasible (namely Midtown and Decatur). It's not super easy, but here's an article about a guy who does it:
One good point is that it's a lot easier to move to a new city and not have a car than it is to redesign your existing car-dependent life in your city to not have a car.
There are parts of Atlanta where car-free living is perfectly feasible (namely Midtown and Decatur). It's not super easy, but here's an article about a guy who does it:
One good point is that it's a lot easier to move to a new city and not have a car than it is to redesign your existing car-dependent life in your city to not have a car.
I would add downtown to your list, and maybe even parts of Buckhead...but you're right, it is feasible if you choose your area wisely.
You can make it work in a variety of places, but you'll need to accept certain limitations, and also develop friendships with people who own cars. It helps having a quick car rental place nearby, as well.
Phoenix would seem to be about the worst large city in which to be without a car, but I know people who make it work. They work and live along the new light-rail, within walking distance to small grocery/convenience/drug stores. They also have car rental on speed-dial. A car rental might seem "expensive" until you realize that between payments/maintenance and insurance, you're likely spending at least $300/mo on a car. Depending on the rates you get, you can rent a car for 10 days for that amount.
One thing that will usually make owning a car necessary is having children.
I bet Phoenix is far from the worst, really. Probably pretty hard to live car-free but there are a lot of large southern cities without any LRT and are much more sprawling / low density than Phoenix.
Any dense city with at least a decent mass transit system will be pretty easy to avoid owning a car. Zip Car has also made it more convenient.
Boston
NYC
Phildelphia
D.C.
Chicago
Those are some that come to mind.
You can add San Francisco to the list.
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I would add downtown to your list, and maybe even parts of Buckhead...but you're right, it is feasible if you choose your area wisely.
